A singer and songwriter in Phoenix, Arizona, Benjie Messer offers uncensored, catchy musical takes on everything from love to politics and humor to heartbreak. He draws inspiration from irreverent, lyrical geniuses: Randy Newman, Mose Allison, Tom Waits, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and more. A veteran performer and bandleader, Benjie is the driving force behind Bad Cactus Brass Band, which has toured the southwest, released four albums, and performed at hundreds of festivals, arts centers, music venues and private events.

Benjie also keeps Phoenix UU’s singing at the music director at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix. In the past, he played trombone with many bands in Phoenix, led singing at protests (as in the photo above), taught music at local colleges, composed for independent film, and did all kinds of odd musical jobs.